Veneer lathe



L- M. YOCK VENEER LATHE Sept. 4, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 25,1959 INVENTOR. Lew/s M. YOCK L. M. YOCK VENEER LATHE Sept. 4, 1962 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE TOR.

v I Afro NEYS WV NW Filed NOV. 23, 1959 I m m Sept. 4, 1962 M. YOCK3,052,272

VENEER LATHE Filed Nov. 23, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet z m I g 3) 2i E 3; X E

Lil INVENTOR.

gi; ZEW/S M. 700K Sept. 4, 1962 Filed NOV. 23, 1959 L. M. YOCK VENEERLATHE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TT'OPNEYS United States Patent 3,652,272 VENEERLATHE Lewis M. Yuck, Portland, Oreg, assignor to The Coe ManufacturingCompany, Painesville, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 23, 1959,Ser. No. 854,743 4 Claims. ((31. 144-209) The present invention relatesto veneer lathes and more particularly to a veneer lathe comprisinghydraulically advanced and retracted concentric pairs of spindles forholding the log to be cut.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of anovel and improved veneer lathe having concentric spindles provided withchucks of different diameter for holding the log to be cut incombination and simple, reliable fluid pressure actuated means formoving the spindles to engage and disengage the chucks carried therebyselectively with the log and to maintain the selected chucks inengagement with the log during the cutting operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improvedveneer lathe having concentric chucks adapted to hold a log to be cutwhich chucks are carried on adjoining ends of aligned concentricspindles rotatably supported in the lathe frame in combination withsimple and reliable means including electric push button controlledpressure fluid actuated motor means of the reciprocable type forreciprocating the spindles and selectively moving the respective pairsof chucks into and out of engagement with the log and for holding thechucks in engagement with the log during the cutting operation.

The invention resides in certain constructions and combinations andarrangements of parts and further objects and advantages will beapparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiment described withreference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification in which similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts, and in which FIG. 1 is a perspective rear view of aveneer lathe embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view with portions in elevation takenapproximately on the vertical central plane through the left-handspindle as the lathe is viewed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view approximately on the line 3--3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view with portions in elevation takenapproximately on the vertical center plane through the left hand end ofthe small spindle and parts adjacent thereto;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system of the lathe, and

FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical control circuits forthe lathe.

The invention is herein illustrated and described a embodying in a moreor less conventional lathe and only those parts of the machine which arenecessary to a complete understanding of the invention are shown anddescribed. The parts of the lathe not shown and described per se form nopart of the present invention and are well known in the art.

The veneer lathe shown in the drawings comprises a frame designatedgenerally by the reference character A, and including a rectangular base10 having upstanding members 11 and 12 adjacent to opposite endsthereof. The frame A shown is of built-up construction and the upperparts of the end members 11 and 12 are separately formed and bolted tothe lower parts to facili- 3,5Z,Z7Z Patented Sept. 4, 1952 tatemanufacture and assembly of the lathe. A conventional knife, knife barand pressure bar assembly, designated generally as 15, and locatedintermediate the end members 11, 12 is movably and adjustably supportedtherebetween in the usual manner.

The log to be cut is adapted to be supported between two pairs of chucks20, 20 and 22, 22 detachably fixed to adjacent ends of axially alignedconcentric pairs of spindles 24, 24' and 26, 26', respectively. Theouter and larger spindles 24, 24' are tubular and the inner and smallerspindles 26, 26 are slidably supported therein. The chucks 243, 20,which are carried by the tubular spindles 24, 24 are larger than thechucks 22, 22 carried by the inner spindles 26, 26 and are soconstructed that the smaller chucks 22, 22' may be retracted into, thatis, drawn flush with the larger chucks 2t), 20. The construction is suchthat either or both pairs of chucks may be employed to hold a log to becut. The spindle and in turn the chucks carried thereby are adapted tobe selectably moved lengthwise to engage and disengage the ends of thelog.

The spindles 24, 26' at the right-hand end of the lathe, as viewed inFIG. 1, are similar in construction to the spindles 24, 26 at the left-hand end of the lathe and are supported, reciprocated and driven in asimilar manner. Because of this only the left-hand end of the lathe,which is the end shown in FIG. 2, will be described in detail, with theunderstanding that the opposite end of the lathe is similar thereto inconstruction and operation. The corresponding parts at the right handend of the lathe are designated by the same reference characters with aprime mark aflixed thereto.

The outer spindle 24 at the left-hand end of the lathe is slidablysupported intermediate its ends in bearing members 30, 31 fixedlysecured to opposite ends of a spindle sleeve or quill 32 rotatablysupported in the end member 11 of the frame A by anti-friction bearings33, 34. The spindle 26 is slidably keyed to the spindle 24 by relativelyshort members or keys 35, 36 located 180 apart within the spindle 24 andfixedly secured thereto as by screws 37, 38, respectively. The radiallyinner faces of the members 35, 36 are plane and engage elongated flatsurfaces 4t 41 on the inner spindle 26. The outer spindle 24 is keyed tothe member or quill 32 by a key 42 located in a slot or aperture in thespindle quill 32 and projecting into an elongated slot or keyway 43 inthe spindle 24. The radially outer end of the key 42 projects through orbeyond the spindle sleeve or quill 32 and into a keyway 44 in a drivenwheel 45 by which the spindle sleeve or quill 32 and in turn thespindles 24, 26 are rotated upon rotation of the wheel 45. The drivenwheel 45 is fixedly secured to the spindle sleeve or quill 32 by beingbolted or otherwise secured to a radial flange 46 on the spindle sleeve.

The left-hand end of the spindle 24 has a portion of reduced diameterupon which a disk or ring 51 is secured by a nut 52 to provide anexternal flange through which the spindle may be reciprocated by acylinder assembly B comprising a cylinder head or cap member 53comprising a central boss-like portion 54 into which the lefthand end ofthe spindle 24 projects. The boss portion 54 of the cylinder head member53 houses an anti-friction type thrust bearing comprising rollers 55 andleft and righthand races 5s, 57, located to the left or rear side of thedisk 51 and interposed therebetween and a plurality of adjustable capscrews 58 in the bottom of the aperture formed by the boss 54. Theopposite or righthand face of the ring or flange 51 is engaged by a ring59 bolted to the right-hand end of the boss member 54. The ring 59 holdsthe thrust bearing assembled with the cylinder head member 53. Theconstruction is such that the ring 51 is free to rotate within thecylinder head mem- 3 her 53. The screws 58 provide means for adjustingthe bearing clearance, etc.

In addition to the right-hand head 53 the cylinder assembly comprises aleft-hand head assembly 61) spaced from the head 53 by a sleeve-likecylinder member 61 and connected to the head 53 by a plurality of rods62 the right-hand ends of which are threaded into tapped aperturesopening into the left-hand side of the head 53. The left-hand ends ofthe rods 62 project through openings in the head 60 and are providedwith nuts which hold the parts together.

The left-hand end of the inside spindle 26 is connected by a thrustbearing assembly designated generally as C to the right-hand end of thepiston rod 63 projecting through the cylinder head member 53 andconnected at its left-hand end to a piston head designated generally bythe reference character D. The opening 64 in the cylinder head 53through which the piston rod 63 projects is provided with a suitablepacking 65. The thrust bearing assembly C comprises a member 66 fixed tothe reduced right-hand end of the piston rod 63 by a nut member 67threaded onto the end of the piston rod. The member 66 provides a flangeon the piston rod be tween which and the left-hand end of the spindle 26the thrust bearing proper, comprising rollers 68 intermediate races 69,70, is positioned. A cup-shaped member 71 threaded onto the spindlemaintains the parts assembled.

The piston head D operates or slides in the right-hand end of thecylinder assembly B. The construction of the piston head assembly andits connection with the piston rod 63, per se, form no part of thepresent invention, suffice it to say that the piston head D comprises asuitable packing ring for preventing the flow of fluid thereabout fromone end of the cylinder assembly B to the other.

The cylinder assembly B, in addition to being connected to the spindle24 by means which permits rotation of the spindle relative to thecylinder assembly, is slidably supported on a plurality of rods 74parallel with the axis of the spindle and having their right-hand endsthreaded into suitably tapped apertures in a boss on the left-hand sideof the left-hand frame member 11. The rods 74 project to the left fromthe frame member 11 through suitably bushed apertures in projections onthe head members 53, 60, respectively. The left-hand projecting ends ofthe rods 74 carry a cross member or yoke 75 fixedly bolted thereto. Asecond piston E, operable in the lefthand position of the cylinderassembly B, is fixedly se cured to the right-hand end of a rod 76projecting through the cylinder head 60 of the cylinder assembly B. Theprojecting rear or left-hand end of the piston rod 76 is fixed to theyoke member 75. Movement of the pistons D, E towards the center of thecylinder 61 is limited by a ring 77 fixed to the inside of the cylinder61 midway between its ends.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the piston E isfixed with respect to the frame of the lathe, that the cylinder assemblyB and the spindle 24 rotatably connected thereto can be reciprocatedlengthwise with respect to the axis of rotation of the spindle betweenlimits defined by the abutment of the cylinder head 60 with the fixedpiston E and the abutment of the ring member 77 within the cylinder 61with the other side of the fixed piston E. The spindle 26 and the pistonassembly including the piston head D and the piston rod 63 to whichpiston rod the spindle is rotatably connected by the thrust bearing Ccan be reciprocated lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the spindlebetween the limits defined by the engagement of the piston D with thecylinder head 53 and with the fixed ring 77.

Pressure fluid, preferably oil, for operating the spindles is suppliedfrom an electric motor driven pump 80 of commercial construction butwhich is preferably of the constant pressure, variable column type. Thereference character 81 designates the electric motor which drives thepump 80. The inlet or suction side of the pump is connected by a conduit82 to an oil reservoir or sump 83 and the discharge or pressure side ofthe pump is connected by a conduit 84 to four double solenoid operatedthree-position spring centered four-way valves 90, 91, 92, 93 and twosingle solenoid operated two-position fourway spring return valves 94,95. The valves 94, 95 have one of their ports blocked as shown in FIG.4. The valves 95 control the flow of pressure fluid to and from thecylinder assembly B, B for operating the spindles 24, 26, 24, 26'. Thevalves referred to are connected to the sump 33 by a conduit and to thecylinder assembly B, B in a manner hereinafter described.

When it is desired to chuck a log in the lathe the chuck and spindles atone end of the log, normally those adjacent to the operators station,are in or are moved to their retracted position, that is the positionshown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The spindles at the other end may be insome predetermined extended position as is well understood with thosefamiliar with the operation of lathes of the character here described.With the spindles 24, 26 and the cylinder assembly B, which it will beassumed are at the operators end of the log, in the normal positionshown in FIG. 4, and a log in position to be chucked, the spindles 24,26 and in turn the chucks carried thereby, are caused to move towardsthe log by the operator depressing an all left-hand spindle extendedpush button switch to close its normally open contacts 101, 102. Theclosing of the normally open contacts 101, 1112 establishes a circuitfrom the line through the now closed contacts 101, 1112, wire 166 andoperating solenoid 1117 of valve 90 to line 110. Energization of theoperating solenoid 167 shifts the valve 90 to the left, as viewed inFIG. 4, connecting the pressure supply conduit 84 to the conduit 114leading to the center of the cylinder assembly B and the conduit 116connected to the outside end of the cylinder assembly to the sumpconduit 96. This causes the cylinder assembly B and the piston D, and inturn the spindles 24, 26 and the chucks 2t 22 carried by the spindles tomove towards the log to be cut.

The piston -D retains its original or normal position relative to thecylinder assembly B because the fluid between the piston D and the innercylinder head 53 is trapped therein since the conduit 115 connecting theinner ends of the cylinder asesmbly B with the valve 91 is closed at thevalve 91. The conduits 114, 115 referred to and the conduit 116connected to the outer end of the cylinder assembly B comprise flexiblesections 122 to 124 respectively, at the cylinder assembly B whichpermit the shifting of the latter relative to the frame of the lathe,etc.

The operator maintains the all left-hand spindles extended push buttonswitch 100 depressed until the log has been properly engagged betweenboth pairs of chucks. Thereafter the spindles are rotated and thecutting operation commenced.

The cutting operation is continued until the diameter of the log closelyapproaches that of the larger chucks 20, 20 whereupon the operatordepresess both retract left-hand large spindle push button switch andretract right-hand large spindle push button switch 130' to close theirnormally open contacts 131, 132 and 131', 132', which establishescircuits from the line 105 through the now closed contacts 131, 132 and131', 132 of push button switches 130, 130, wires 133, 133' andoperating solenoids 134, 134 of valves 91, 93, respectively to line 110.Energization of the solenoids, 134, 134 of valves 91, 93 shifts thevalves in an inwardly direction, that is, towards the log, connectingthe exhaust conduit 95 to the conduits 115, 115 leading to the innerends of the cylinder assemblies B, B and the pressure conduit 84 toconduits 136, 136 leading to the valves 94, 95, respectively. In theirdeenergized normal condition the valves 94, 95 conmeet the conduits 136,136 with the conduits 116, 116' leading to the outer ends of thecylinder assemblies B, B. This causes pressure fluid to be applied tothe outer ends of the cylinder assemblies B, B, that is, between thestationary piston E, B an dthe outer cylinder heads 60, 60 with theresult that the cylinder assemblies B, B are returned to their normalpositions relative to the stationary or fixed pistons 'E, E retractingthe spindles 24, 24' and the chucks 20, carried thereby from the logbeing cut. The operator maintains the push button switches 130, 130depressed until the chucks 20, 219 have been retracted the desireddistance.

During the retraction of the cylinder assemblies B, B the fluid in theinner ends of the cylinder assemblies exhausts through the conduits 115,115 and the fluid between the two piston heads D, E and D, E is trappedtherein and causes the piston heads D, D and in turn the small spindles26, 26' to retain their previous position with respect to the pistons E,E, that is, their extended positions with their chucks 22, 22 inengagement with the log.

The lathe continues to operate with the log being held by the smallchucks 22., 22'. When the knife approaches closely to these chucks theoperator stops the rotation of the spindles and depresses the retractleft-hand small spindle push button switch 140 to close its normallyopen contacts 141,142 and 143, 144. The closing of the normally opencontacts 141, 142 of push button switch 1411 establishes a circuit fromthe line 105 through the now closed contacts 141, 142 of push buttonswitch 14 wire 145 and operating solenoid 146 of valve 91 to line 116.The energization of the solenoid 146 of valve 91 shifts the valve in anoutwardly direction, that is, in the direction away from the log, asviewed in FIG. 4, connecting the pressure supply conduit 84 to theconduit 115 leading to the inner end of the cylinder assembly B and thesump conduit 96 to the conduit 136 leading to the valve 94. The closingof contacts 143, 144 of switch 1411 establishes a circuit from the line195 through the now closed contacts 143, 144 of switch 141), wire 151Dand operating solenoid 151 of valve 94 to line 110. Energization of theoperating solenoid 151 of the valve 94 shifts the valve in an outwardlydirection connecting the con duit 136 already connected to the sumpconduit through the valve 91 to the conduit 114 connected to the centersof the cylinder assembly B. This causes the piston D to be moved to itscenter position adjacent to the stop 77, while the cylinder assembly Bremains stationary, to retract the small spindle 26 and the chuck 22carried thereby to release the core in the lathe. The small spindle 26and the small chuck 21 carried thereby may be retracted if desired bydepressing the retrack righthand small spindle push button switch 141).The circuits established and the operation performed are similar tothose described with respect to the small spindle 26 when the pushbutton switch 149 is depressed and will not be described.

The small spindle 26 may be extended without extending the large spindle24 to the same position to which it was extended with the large spindleas explained above, by the operator depressing an extend left-hand smallspindle push button switch 155 having a pair of contacts 156, 157, inparallel ClI'Olllt with the normally open contacts 131, 13-2 of retractleft-hand large spindles push switch 130 and a pair of contacts 160, 161in parallel circuit with the normally open contacts 143, 144 of retractleft-hand small spindle push button switch 140. When this switch 155 isdepressed the operating solenoid 134 of the valve 91 and the operatingsolenoid 151 of the valve 94 are energized causing the valves to shiftto the position wherein the pressure supply conduit 84 is connected bythe valve 91 to the conduit 136 which conduit is in turn connected tothe conduit 114 leading to the center of the cylinder assembly B by thevalve 94-. The conduit 115 connected to the inner end of the cylinderassembly B is simultaneously connected with the sump conduit 96 by thevalve 91. This causes the piston D to move inwardly of the lathe whilethe cylinder assem- 'bly B is held stationary by the fluid trappedbetween the stationary piston E and the outer cylinder head 60 of thecylinder assembly. The conduit 116 is blocked at the valves 90, 94. Theright-hand small spindle 26 may be extended in a similar manner by theoperator depressing the extend right-hand small spindle push buttonswitch 155'. Both right-hand spindles may be simultaneously extended bythe operator depressing the extend all righthand spindles push buttonswitch If, at any time, while the spindles 24-, 26 are in their extendedor partially extended position the operator wishes to retract bothspindles simultaneously he pushes it retract all left-hand spindles pushbutton switch 165 having a pair of normally open contacts 166, 167 inseries circuit between the lines 105, with a wire 168 and the operatingsolenoid 170 of valve 90, a pair of normally open contacts 171, 172 inparallel circuit between the line 105 and the wire with the normallyopen contacts 141, 142 of switch 140; and a pair of normally opencontacts 173, 174 in parallel circuit between the line 105 and the wirewith the normally open contacts 143, 144 of push button switch 141). Thedepressing of push button switch energizes the operating solenoids 170,134, 151 of valves 90, 91, 94 to shift the valve 90 towards the centerof the lathe and the valves 91, 94 towards the outside Of the lathe,that is in the direction away from the center thereof. This connects theouter end of the cylinder assembly B to the pressure supply conduit 84through the conduit 116 and the valve 90 while connecting the inner endof the cylinder assembly B to the pressure supply conduit 84- throughthe conduit 115 and the valve 91. Simultaneously the center of thecylinder assembly is connected through the conduits 114-, 136 and thevalves 90, 91 to the sump conduit 16. With the circuitry just describedthe application of pressure fluid to the ends of the cylinder assembly Bshifts both the cylinder assembly B and the movable piston D away fromthe center of the lathe as far as permitted by the fixed piston D. Bothrighthand spindles 24, 26 may be simultaneously retracted 'in a similarmanner by the operator depressing the retract all right-hand spindlespush button switch 165'.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that certainoperations depend upon one or more of the fluid chambers in the cylinderassembly B being full of hydraulic fluid such as the extension of bothspindles at either side of the lathe simultaneously. This operationdepends upon fluid 'being trapped between the movable and stationarypiston heads D, B, respectively, referring to the lefthand end of thelathe. The system can be primed at any time this may be desirable by theoperator depressing the switches 165, 165'.

If desired, the small spindles 26, 26' may be extended approximatelyhalf the length of the cylinder assemblies B, B beyond the maximumextension of the large cylinders 24, 24 by the operator depressingmaximum extension left-hand small spindle and maximum extensionright-hand small spindle push button switches 175, 175. The switch 175has a pair of normally open contacts 176, 177 in parallel circuitbetween the line 105 and the wire 106 with the normally open contacts101, 102 of push button switch 100 and a pair of normally open contacts180, 181 in parallel circuit between the line 1115 and the wire 133 withthe normally open contacts 131, 132 of switch 131). The depressing ofpush button switch 175 energizes the operating solenoids 107, 134 ofvalves 90, 11 to shift the valve 91) towards the outside of the lathe,that is in the direction away from the center thereof and the valve 91in the opposite direction. This connects the center of the cylinderassembly B to the pressure supply conduit 84 through the conduit 114-and the valve 90 while connecting the ends of the cylinder assembly B tothe sump conduit 96 through the valves 90, 91. With the circuitry justdescribed the application of pressure fluid to the center of thecylinder assembly B shifts both the cylinder assembly 13 and the movablepiston D towards the center of the lathe as far as permitted by thefixed piston E.

The reference characters 190, 190 designate extend left-hand largespindle and extend right-hand large spindle push button switches havingcontacts 191, 192 and 191, 192' in parallel circuit with the contacts ofswitches 140, 140' and which can be used to extend the large spindles,if desired, While the small spindles are extended. In the embodimentshown the movement which takes place upon the depressing of any pushbutton switch will stop if the switch is released before the movement iscompleted.

From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of applicantsinvention it will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated andothers have been accomplished and that applicant has provided a new andimproved veneer lathe which is extremely simple in construction andflexible in operation. While the present embodiment of the invention hasbeen described in considerable detail the invention is not limited tothe particular construction shown and it is the intention to coverhereby all adaptations, modifications and uses thereof which come withinthe practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Having described my invention, I claim:

'1. In a veneer lathe, a frame, a plurality of concentric spindlessupported in said frame, means for rotating said spindles, fluidactuated means for reciprocating said spindles lengthwise of their axisof rotation, said fluid actuated means comprising a cylinder memberclosed at both ends and a plurality of piston members within saidcylinder member, said members being movable relative to one anotherlengthwise of said axis of said spindles, means connecting a first oneof said members to said frame against linear movement relative thereto,means connecting a second one of said members to one of said spindleswhereby movement of said second one of said members relative to saidfirst one of said members moves said spindle connected theretolengthwise of its axis, means connecting a third one of said members toanother of said spindles whereby movement of said third one of saidmembers relative to said first one of said members moves said spindleconnected thereto lengthwise of its axis, and means for selectivelyconnecting opposite ends of said cylinder member and the space thereinbetween said pistons to a source of liquid under pressure and todischarge means.

2. In a veneer lathe, a frame, a plurality of concentric spindlessupported in said frame, means for rotating said spindles, a fluidactuated mechanism comprising a cylinder assembly, means supporting saidcylinder assembly for movement lengthwise of its longitudinal axisparallel to the axis of said spindles, means for connecting saidcylinder assembly to one of said spindles whereby movement of saidcylinder assembly lengthwise of its longitudinal axis moves said spindlelengthwise of its axis, a first piston within said cylinder assembly,means connecting said first piston to said frame against linear movementrelative thereto, a second piston within said cylinder assembly, meansconnecting said second piston to another of said spindles wherebymovement of said second piston lengthwise of the longitudinal axis ofsaid cylinder assembly moves said spindle lengthwise of its axis, andmeans for selectively connecting opposite ends of said cylinder assembly and the space therein between said pistons to a source of liquidunder pressure and to discharge means.

3. In a veneer lathe, a frame, a plurality of concentric spindlessupported in said frame, means for rotating said spindles, a fluidactuated mechanism comprising a cylinder assembly in axial alignmentwith said spindles, means supporting said cylinder assembly for movementlengthwise of its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of saidspindles, means for connecting said cylinder assembly to one of saidspindles whereby movement of said cylinder assembly lengthwise of itslongitudinal axis moves said spindle lengthwise of its axis, a firstpiston within said cylinder assembly, means connecting said first pistonto said frame against linear movement relative thereto, a second pistonwithin said cylinder assembly, means connecting said second piston toanother of said spindles whereby movement of said second pistonlengthwise of the longitudinal axis of said cylinder assembly moves saidspindle lengthwise of its axis, and means for selectively connectingopposite ends of said cylinder assembly and the space therein betweensaid pistons to a source of liquid under pressure and to dischargemeans.

4. A veneer lathe according to claim 1 in which the means forselectively connecting the cylinder assembly to a source of liquid underpressure and to discharge means comprises electrically controlled valvesand switch means for controlling the actuation of the valves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

